Zastava M85 in 7.62x39

I've never shot one... But I have handled them at my LGS and I do shoot and reload for 7.62X39... Put those two facts together and I would be very pleased to own an M85 in 7.62... But even more pleased to own a CZ 527 in 7.62... Which I also have handled (but not owned or shot). Not much help for you, but something...
 
I have one in 223 that really shoots and handles very nice...Toying with the idea of this one in 7.62x39..
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"Real guns" has written up a bunch on the mini Mauser. I'm interested in a bell carslon carbelite stock for one if anyone knows the easiest way to get one in Canada, let me know!
 
I personically would prefer the Zustava over the CZ. I believe that Zustava makes some very high quality firearms, though they are not finished as nicely as some others.
As far as the 7.62X39 goes, I believe it would make a very fine deer stocking cartridge.
Ivor
 
I have one in the mail from Corwin as we speak. Reports from the states are complaints of less than perfect stock finish and weak extractors. NOTE: 000 steel wool and BLO will fix the stock finish. All complaints of broken or bent extractors were the result of repeated use of lacquered surplus ammo and no chamber cleaning. I reload with PRVI and Lapua brass and expect no issues. I owned the CZ and found it too small and delicate( the magazine hung out and was awkward). I have a Savage Scout and find it too heavy with the accu stock. I am planning on the Zasatava to be just right. (sounds like a 3 bears story) I will add a initial review of the carbine when I get it. A shooting review will follow when it gets above -25.

Darryl
 
Shooters of the rifle reported hard chambering with the lacquered stuff. They measured and found the casing to be oversized due to the added coating. That's no big deal in a mil surp generous chamber but is a problem in a commercial sporter. It appears that a combo of built up lacquer and oversized cases cause hard extraction that the Sako style extractor is not up to. Like I said I don't shoot any mil surp ammo so I don't have any worries. Similar issues have surfaced with mil surp used in the CZ. Most common was light primer strikes on the hard mil surp primers. My opinion is shoot commercial sporting ammo or reload for commercial sporters. The little Zastava is just too nice to run corrosive mil surp through anyways. I do agree the milsurp is cheap and fun to shoot though. I don't know how lubing the cases would work Ed. Why don't you buy one like me and we can submit our field tests using mil surp vs commercial ammo. That would be fun.
Darryl
 
dand883 said:
I wonder if copper washed steel will give the same problems as the laquer coated steel?
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Think the copper wash makes all the difference. I had problem with milsurp lacquered in my AIA but since only shooting copper wash no longer do the fired cases stick in the chamber. Shoot the lacquered only in a SKS now.
 
I acquired the M85 a month back. Haven't had an opportunity to test the rifle so far. As is usually the case with Zastava, the metal work i.e. receiver, barrel, trigger guard is well finished. The bolt on CFs not that well finished and obviously far from smooth initially. Wood (personally, don't much appreciate the blond) is very plain but does look good when worked a bit with 0000 steel wool and True Oil.

Trigger may vary......my 6.5 SE has 3lbs of smooth pull and smooth safety.....the 7.62x39 around 5lbs and rough, the safety quite stiff too and sharp around the edges of the metal.

I noted the action screws on both my Zastavas quite a bit loose when I took the rifles out of the box.
 
madtrapper143 said:
I owned the CZ and found it too small and delicate( the magazine hung out and was awkward). Darryl
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Asking out of curiosity, why do you consider the CZ as delicate (I haven`t had an opportunity handle one yet). Agree on the mag, looks a bit out of place on that small rifle.
 
Everything about the CZ was somewhat doll like in size. I guess delicate was the wrong word. The CZ is tough enough but it just seemed too small for my big hands. The feel of the carbine makes the impression is it not robust. The Zastava on the other hand looks and hopefully feels like it has more hand filling dimensions. Hopefully not as bulky as the Savage scout I have in 7.62x39.

Darryl
 
madtrapper143 said:
Everything about the CZ was somewhat doll like in size. I guess delicate was the wrong word. The CZ is tough enough but it just seemed too small for my big hands. The feel of the carbine makes the impression is it not robust. The Zastava on the other hand looks and hopefully feels like it has more hand filling dimensions. Hopefully not as bulky as the Savage scout I have in 7.62x39.

Darryl
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You may or may not be a somewhat disappointed with the dimension......I suppose it was designed to be proportionate overall. I found the stock on the M85 has the same dimensions compared to the Zastava .22 except for the Monte Carlo.
 
Mossberg has the MVP in 7.62X39 in the Predator model... It will be a strong competitor in the 7.62 bolt category... I'm shooting a single shot 7.62, but got rid of the SKS's... Will be picking up a bolt in the new year.
 
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